Finally found some ammo...

[cmj8591]

I wonder if we're reaching a saturation point. Midway has had IMI 9mm ammo for the past several days. They are advertising it quite heavily and I have gotten several e mails. I guess no one wants it at $1.20 a round. I've also noticed on Gun Broker that even though they are getting sky high prices for stuff and seem to be selling it, the bidding activity has slowed some. Where a couple of months ago ammo would have 30, 40 or more bids, a lot of stuff I see is selling with under 10. One of the local LGS's had 45 and 9mm on the shelf for several days and lots of primers that no one was buying. I'm not sure how long they can let stuff sit around before the price starts to drop. The Wal Mart stuff goes quick because it is relatively cheep. So could this be a sign or just wishful thinking? Ammo is not food. Most people can not afford to shoot $1 a round 9mm regularly. There is only so much disposable income available to spend on hobbies. These prices will not last much longer.

 

[quikdraw67]

I'm in group 1. The only thing I needed in 2020 was .40 S&W when I bought some 3rd Generation pistols.

Luckily the LGS had plenty on the shelf at pre-pandemic prices and I bought a few boxes each Saturday. So I'm good.

I still have a boatload of .44 Magnum light reloads from my late brother and a sweet 629-1 6" to shoot them out of.

I think I'll start using them up. And when ammo gets back to normal, I'll pick a few boxes of .40 caliber every time I go shooting.

 

[jjmIII_Ruger]

Glory stories:

Just a 1-2 years back Federal was running rebates and I got a case of 9mm for $135!! Grabbed a case of 45acp for $180!!
Bought a case of 9mm NATO in a new ammo can for $200 no rebates!

I'm well stocked but now realize I lack enough 38 special. Prices go down I'm getting 3 cases asap!

 

[CalifEd]

I like the idea of reloading but I don't shoot enough to get into reloading and I don't really need another activity to obsess over.
Being fully involved to do it right (ie Obsession) has its own requirements.
I know me - I would have to have the latest whiz-bang do-hickie to hang on at least one of my 3 or 4 presses.....

 

[hardknocks]

Ammo

Right before covid i bought 1k rounds of 9mm
For $8.50 a box
And 1k rounds of 45 ACP for $14.00 a box.
American made speer brass ammo.
Soon it will be back to overstock & prices will fall.
I guess its worth what people pay at the time.

 

[BC38]

There are 5 basic groups of ammo buyers.

1. first group has a good stash built over time, and/or reloads and has components
2. next group owns a few guns maybe, has a couple boxes of ammo that lasts months to years, but they wanted insurance this year
3. 3rd group has guns, but not a deep stash of ammo, and they got hit by the panic, and now things are tight
4. 4th group are the new gun buyers, who need ammo for their guns
5. 5th are the flippers, who buy and sell to make a profit

Now, everyone is looking, but not everyone is buying.

Group 1 is watching, trying to find a deal, or just watching the market.
Group 2 has likely added their additional ammo, they feel good.
Group 4 has spent a couple hundred on their guns, likely that much on ammo for their new guns, and are now good... they will mostly join group 2.

Group 4 and 5 are out there daily, fighting each other for whatever hits the shelves. Group 4 hates group 5, but are the reason that group exists.

Federal is shipping ammo to Bass Pro and Academy. It's $14.99 a box of 50 on the shelf. That isn't far from pre-covid prices, Federal was never the cheapest brand.

I'm in group 1, I don't need any more. If you want to buy it all, good for you. But I'm not going to pay you double to get my share, so I will leave you to choke on it. I have $8 boxes of S&B and Fiocchi. Enough to last, last quite a few years if I have to slow down.
I can go to the range and shoot a magazine if need be, and then ease off. I don't have to shoot 200 rds just because I can, it doesn't necessarily do any good, and right now it isn't worth it.

I can wait you out, until you can't afford to keep buying it, and can't keep storing it.
That time will come sooner if a bunch of us join me in waiting.

And sooner or later, that increased production will fill the shelves, and then deliveries will leave stores overstocked. And they eventually have to run sales to move it, to keep things flowing. And then I will start buying more again.

I'm in group 1. Started buying mostly components and some factory ammo every month after the last shortage. Now I'm trading stuff I have a lot of for stuff I want or need. Not selling anything though.

I did just buy 340 rounds of 7.62x39 for $70 yesterday, which brings my stock in this caliber up to 2000 rounds. That is the one caliber I haven't started reloading yet. This is the most significant purchase of ammo or components I've made in months. When the panic ends and prices come down again - and it will - components for reloading this round will be the first thing I stock up on.

 

[diyj98]

With prices like that no wonder that they have ammo in stock.

That reminds me of a local guy here. Everyone talks about how he's the only guy with a good selection of ammo. I stopped in a couple weeks and ago and noticed no ammo was priced. I asked about his steel cased Russian 45acp. He told me "$1.00 a round and it's going up".

 

[Doug44]

There is not a shortage. Just check on line and see all the high dollar ammo. All you want if you want to pay their prices. The problem is the hoarders and gouges. I bet most of the gun shops have ammo stuck back for those who buy guns. I know our local Gander Outdoors does. They also have a lot more shotgun ammo on the shelves. I am not a hoarder and I hope I have enough to get through this. Certainly not a gouger because what I have is not for sale. I will help out a friend if need be. If you have a good supply then good for you but hope you are not a gouger.

 

[uncleted327]

There is most definitely also a shortage, if there wasn't the high online prices wouldn't exist and brick and mortar stores would have supply. My local BPS used to have a whole aisle of ammo, both sides. For the last 6 months their entire ammo selection could fit in a large shoebox, and typically in a very small shoebox...

 

[ldausmc1369]

Hit Cabelas today at the right time as a truck arrived this AM. Was able to get 3 boxes of 9mm brass case, 3 boxes of .380 and 500 CCI Blazer .22 for a good price! Happy, happy, happy!

 

[scoobysnacker]

I think things are beginning to come around, at least in some areas.

One of the other sites I frequent is mostly local.
This was from today, after noon, regarding one of the local Academy stores

Currently have a bunch of 9mm, .40, .380 brass and steel. Have a big stack of .223 also. Just a heads up

This was posted on same board, on Tuesday

Bass Pro in Denham just got a shipment of ammo. Going fast. 9 mm, 308, 270, 12 and 20 gauge and others

Same with Cabela's this morning. My brother scooped some 410 for my son

It was $14.99 for a box of 50 for 9mm made by Federal.
Shotgun shells were Federal Top Gun for $9.99
270 was Hornady American Whitetail 130 gr for $25.99

So the big box stores are getting stuff in, and the prices don't seem bad (no idea about the cost of .270, assuming that is fair).

I get the sense that if we calm down and quit paying the scalpers, things will be back to reasonable soon. There was a month or so where nobody could find anything (or weren't posting it). Now, these finds are getting pretty common.

 

[Jounior]

I encourage ever shooter out there to start reloading. Every
cal mentioned I load for and have a great supply of brass, powder,
bullets and primers. And for you younger guys, when you buy
components, push yourself and buy primers by the sleeve (5K) bullets
by the thousands and lots and lots of powder. When this is over, it will
happen again. Everyone gets advice. Only the wise profit from it.

All well and good. Problem is components for the most part are like loaded rounds...........unavailable.

Me, I'm not in that leaky boat. Presently, I have more than enough components the last for years. I bought them over the years when available. Learned the hard way during Obama and knew it would happen again, so I slowly stocked up on what I needed and help my supplies at a pre determined level (plenty) and never allowed it to run low.

 

[max503]

I went into a Walmart in another town yesterday, and just for fun went by the sporting goods counter. Surprise, surprise - they had Stingers and 22 magnums (two different kinds) for normal prices, and no limit! I got five boxes of Stingers and one of the magnums. The clerk said they just came in the day before and she had sold a lot. They probably had 25 boxes when I left. I was wanting some Stingers for my Bersa last spring when the drought started so this worked out good for me.

 

[Reggie TisFree]

In my region Academy gets shipments Mon-Wed-Fri.
Sometimes there is a line, sometimes not.

 

[otisrush]

The reloader's ability to survive a drought isn't very different than a non-reloader's. A reloader with components to build 5K rounds is in the same position (drought survivability wise) as someone who has 5K rounds of commercial ammunition. The reloader IS able to be prepared with 5K rounds worth of components for less $ than it costs to buy 5K rounds of ammo....that is an advantage.

The key in either case is foresight (scars) to be sure and be stocked up prior to the drought - whether it's stocking up on components or finished ammo.

 

[M E Morrison]

I encourage ever shooter out there to start reloading. Every
cal mentioned I load for and have a great supply of brass, powder,
bullets and primers. And for you younger guys, when you buy
components, push yourself and buy primers by the sleeve (5K) bullets
by the thousands and lots and lots of powder. When this is over, it will
happen again. Everyone gets advice. Only the wise profit from it.

Have you looked for reloading supplies lately?

 

[BC38]

Have you looked for reloading supplies lately?

Probably not - because like many around here he took this advise after the last shortage (or even before then) and he doesn't need to buy anything right now.

Right now isn't the time to take up reloading - but just as soon as this shortage passes, that's the time to start.

I believe that is what he's advising.

 

[jag1954]

Banner day at the LGS for me. 4 (50 round) boxes of .22lr hollow point, same amount in .38 special and a few boxes of 12 gauge. Surprisingly they had a fair amount of ammo on the shelves.

 

[wetdog1911]

That's what they say every Panic. And eventually they're giving away ammo and guns again. Be patient. This too shall pass.

And when it does pass and prices drop, they'll reason that things will stay that way and not stock up, because history doesn't repeat itself ... Until it does.

Best "Stocking Up" story. Guy on another forum , turn of the lastcentury. Bragging about his 200 20/30 rnd M16 magazines, pictures of them all stacked up for display.

When asked about ammo, he admitted he didn't have enough 5.56 to even fill 1 20 rnd magazine. Thread dried up pretty quick after that admission. Still makes me chuckle.

Rob

 

[Oldfrt]

At about noon today I noticed a email from Midway that they had 556 in stock. This reminded me that I wanted to do some window shopping of air soft stuff, haven't been able to get to their website since, looks like they crashed the site.